Photo Album

Aircraft
and Colours of the Rhodesian Air Force

Throughout its history, the Rhodesian Air Force has been serving
under many names and markings.

The South Rhodesian Air Force was first established in September 1939 as a
transition of a humble Southern Rhodesia Air Unit
trained in the UK during the 1930s, which also became the No. 1 Squadron.

The SRAF lasted as independent organisation for
only about six months. The war in Europe was developing rapidly and unfavourably
for the British prompting rapid mobilisation of overseas resources for the war
effort. In
April 1940, SRAF was therefore absorbed into the Royal Air Force and No.1 Sqn redesignated
237 (Rhodesia) Squadron RAF. Soon, the Rhodesian Air Training Group (RATG) was
initiated as part of the Empire Training Scheme. During the course of the war,
RATG expanded to of four Service Flying Training Schools, an Initial Training
Wing, a combined Air Observers and Air Gunners School and a Central Flying
School for instructors. Over 7600 pilots and 2300 navigators were trained in
Rhodesia during the war years.

Later in the war two more RAF units received the
name "Rhodesian": No. 266 Sqn and No. 44 Sqn.

Immediately after the end of hostilities in
Europe and the Far East the training establishments were rapidly reduced to
much smaller capacity, but training of RAF crews in Rhodesia would eventually
continue until 1954.

In the meantime, SRAF made its second debut as
an independent air force. Re-created in 1947, it consisted initially of but one
Communications Flight operating a miscellany of well-worn trainers and transports
left over from the RATG. It was not until 1951 that the force received its first
combat aircraft, the Supermarine Spitfires Mk. 22. These fighters equipped No 1
& 2 Squadrons in a newly-established air base in New Sarum.

In September 1953, SRAF was renamed Rhodesian
Air Force upon creation of Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland . A year later,
in October 1954, by appointment of the Queen the prefix 'Royal' was added to the
name, thereby becoming the Royal Rhodesian Air Force (RRAF).

The 1960s saw the breakup of the Federation,
followed by the start of the insurgent war which would eventually last until the
late 1970s. On 1 March 1970 Rhodesia declared itself a republic, and the 'Royal'
prefix was dropped from the title of the RRAF, which became the Rhodesian Air
Force (RhAF).

Following the peace conference held in 1979–1980, a settlement was met to
oversee the disarming of revolutionary guerrillas, the holding of elections, and
the granting of independence to a local government. The
country changed its name to Zimbabwe-Rhodesia.
Although the guerilla war continued for yet some time, eventually the conflict
ceased. With the country gaining formal independence on 18 April 1980, the Rhodesian Air Force became
the Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) and gradually could transfer to peacetime
duties.

With personnel reductions followed by lack of trained pilots and many
aircraft put into storage or sold off, the AFZ has never achieved a degree of
the operational efficiency of its former self.

Rhodesian Air Force Photo Album

The re-established South Rhodesian Air Force received a complement of
22 Spitfire Mk 22 fighters. These were delivered from the UK
between March and December 1951, and two new Squadrons
(No.1 & No. 2) were formed to operate these aircraft. The Spitfire served
in
first-line duties for only three years, being superseded by
de Havilland Vampires FB.9 in early 1954. In 1955 ten Spitfires were
sold to Syria an the remaining aircraft withdrawn.

This aircraft (SR64, ex-RAF serial
PK350) has been preserved as a gate-guardian at New Sarum Air
Station, photographed here in the 1970s. This aircraft latter was
later restored to flying condition, but sadly it crashed in 1982 and
was damaged beyond repair.

de Havilland Vampire T.11 in the markings of 2 Sqn. The de Havilland
Vampire was the most numerous aircraft type in the history of
Rhodesian Air Force, a total 66 aircraft in various versions being
used between 1953 and 1985. Sixteen of their number were two-seat
T.11 trainers which operated from March 1955 until November 1977
with No.2 Sqn.

The national insignia of a green-white
roundel with Rhodesian Lion visible here was introduced in 1970 and
used until 1979. This marking was displayed in the usual six
positions, together with a green/white/green fin flash.

Hawker Hunter FGA.9 of No. 1 Sqn.

12 Hunters FGA.9 were purchased from
Britain in 1962 to re-equip No. 1 Squadron. These were later
complemented by 4 FGA.9s (FGA.Mk 80) and one T.7 (T.Mk 81) purchased
from Kenya in 1980 by the AFZ, plus 9 ex-RAF Hunter FGA.9 received
from Britain during the 1980s.

The Hawker Hunter proved capable of an
extraordinary long service life in the hands of many air forces
throughout the world, and Zimbabwe was no exception, having retired
their last machines in 2002. An interesting note is that as
sanctions were imposed on Rhodesian government during the insurgent
war, the
Rhodesian Hunters were kept flying with parts that could be
recovered from ex-RAF spares dumps in Oman and Sharjah.

Percival Provost T.52 (ser. no R3601, ex-RAF SR137) of No. 6
Sqn

16 Percival Provost trainers were acquired from Britain in 1954-1955.
They were used by Used by 4 and 6
Squadrons for basic flight training. The aircraft proved successful
and needed, and 9 additional aircraft were obtained covertly during the
early 1970s, possibly from Oman. Some of the Provosts were fitted
with hardpoints to allow the use of weapons in the close support
role.

This aircraft is photographed at the
SAAF Museum which acquired it in 1971. It was later written off in
1998.

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